Conflicted views on incest. Yours?

Question

Incest - I can't inagine ever being intimate that way with family becuase they're my family. But I can't condemn those who do do it because they feel the romantic affections towards the other. Though it is a bit disconcerting that mother or fathers can see their offspring as someone romantically possible.

There are the genetic problems with incest but I don't have problems with two people loving each other. I find it hard to imagine how a parent's affection can turn into sexual affection, so I am asking if anyone has anything to say on the topic. I'm interested about other opinions not just whtehr it is right or wrong.

My views are conflicted. I am half disgusted, half inclined to view it as if they are a normal romantic couple and go "awww".

Are there any exceptions do you think to when it is sort of acceptable? And how far off the immidiete family tree do you think it needs to be for you to be comfortable with it? Does social-context have anything to do with how one views it?

Answer 1

My opinion is YUCK! Can't understand how anyone in family could feel like that! Not nice and playing havoc with gene pool!

Answer 2

Most cultures reject incest at one level or another.

Isolated, low population groups often endorse incest between cousins while they condemn incest between family members.  

The Iroquois, for example, married their "cross-cousins" - a boy's father's sister's daughter, or a daughter's mother's brother's son.  In doing so, they were able to maintain an acceptable level of genetic separation.  Many tribal cultures marry first cousins.

In royal families, they have concerns towards keeping the blooline royal... this often leads to cousins (1st, 2nd, or further, removed or otherwise) getting together.  In some royal families and cultures, it has been so bad as to have brother and sister get married - the Egyptian Pharoahs sometimes practiced this level of incest.

Parent-child incest is more rare, but not unheard of in royalty and in tribal culture.

In modern, western culture, anything closer than a second cousin is considered taboo, and in some areas, 1st cousins are legally forbade from marrying.  It goes without saying that the ban would include brother/sister or parent/child.

There are some common misconceptions about the genetic implications of inbreeding - not all recessive genes are bad, and there are just as likely to be good traits as bad expressed in an inbreeding situation.

For my own opinion, I side with my culture in the thought that immediate family is off limits in all cases, and that cousins marrying cousins should be shunned.

Answer 3

Mental sickness.The people should be killed.

Answer 4

Incest is unforgivable no matter what.  Yes they are human, it happens, but people kill each other too for their own reasons.  Does that make it justified?  Social context and morals are everything in society, but it is the genes passed down that serves as the real issues here since there are many times over retardation, birth defects, etc. that hurts our society since most incest comes from ignorance, in which it costs the tax payers the burdens of allowing them to act in such a manner without suffering any consequences such as the taxes we pay for the healthcare to permit them to act irresponsibly.  

If it is found out, the family should be seperated and or sterilized to keep it from happening again.  Any man or woman that is too damned lazy to go out and find their own partners or siblings that experiment around, do not understand what is important in life to begin with.  May God have mercy on their souls for the unclean acts they do against Him.  Can you imagine what this world be like if we all did that?  I can't imagine the monstrocities!  If you think Awwww, somewhere along the lines, examine what the real morals are in your life.  If you can live with it, then pay my portion of the tax burdens or insurance bills that I pay.  You are brave for asking and bring it into play so that all can be made aware of thing we tend to sweep under the rug.  Thanks for the op here.  Donna

Answer 5

Keep it in the family. lol

Answer 6

its do to ignorance

Answer 7

I think studies have shown that siblings raised separately show strong sexual interest in each other.  On the other hand, children raised in a collective family situation together, even if not blood related, show aversion to sexual relationships, even if encouraged and wanted.  More common is sexual activity between step-siblings existing in blended families after puberty.

It is an interesting combination of genetics and environment.  From a scientific standpoint, second cousins is probably the limit for marriage with offspring to avoid genetic disorders.    

As a society, it's a very good question as to where the line is drawn.  Not too long ago, interracial marraige was taboo in many places.  Same s*x marriage is starting to gain momentium if not totally crashing opposite s*x marriage.  Probably the next logical barrier is incesteous marraige.  Maybe not now or even in 10 years, but probably in the next 25.